European Commission to refer Greece to the EU Court of Justice

The European Commission said on Thursday it will refer Greece to the Court of Justice of the European Union on two issues, recognition of professional qualifications and treatment of urban waste water.
In its monthly infringement package on all EU member-states, the Commission said it was referring Greece to the Court of the EU for non-compliance of national rules with the EU legislation on the recognition of professional qualifications.
"EU rules have contributed to the creation of a modern system for the recognition of professional qualifications across the EU. They make it easier for professionals to provide their services in different member states," it said,based on Directive 2005/36/EC, as amended by Directive 2013/55/EU.
"Under Greek law, professionals qualified as school directors and other education managers in other member states must follow a heavier procedure than that provided for under the directive for professional recognition of their qualifications to be able to work in Greece. This is contrary to the Directive, and also results in making access to the Greek labour market more difficult for those EU professionals," the EC said in its decision, after a formal notice (Sept. 2022) and a reasoned opinon (April 2023).
The EC will also refer Greece to the same Court for failing to adequately collect and treat urban waste water (Directive 91/271/EEC).
"The Directive aims to protect people's health and the environment by requiring that urban waste water is collected and treated before discharge into the environment. Towns and cities need to put in place the necessary infrastructure in order to collect and treat their urban waste water," the Commission said, but despite some progress, the issue is not resolved.
After warning Greece with a formal notice (May 2020), followed by a reasoned opinion (May 2020), "efforts by the Greek authorities have, to date, been insufficient," the Commission said.
Formal notice letters
Among other issues referred to in the report, Greece has been issued a formal notice for failing to meet waste collection and recycling targets (almost all member states were included in the notice), while it urged Greece to avoid discriminatory employment conditions in public schools.
For the latter specifically, the Commission said, "Greek law contains less favorable employment conditions for fixed-term teachers working in public schools compared to permanent teachers, for instance as regards maternity leave and sick leave," and it is issuing a formal notice to Greece for this.
Reasoned opinions
In a reasoned opinion, which precedes a referral to the Court if non-compliance continues, the Commision asked Greece and Poland to transpose EU rules on the common charger. Greece failed to comply with Directive 2014/53/EU, which introduces a common charging solution.
"The common charging requirements will apply to all mobile phones, tablets, digital cameras, headphones, headsets, portable speakers, handheld videogame consoles, e-readers, earbuds, keyboards, mice, and portable navigation systems as of 28 December 2024. These requirements will also apply to laptops as from 28 April 2026. The deadline for transposition of the new Directive was 28 December 2023. Greece and Poland have still not notified their national measures transposing the Directive," the Commission said.
Additionally, Greece was requested to comply with EU rules on family benefits, in a reasoned opinion.
In its explanation for the move, the European Commission said, "According to the Greek legislation, only EU nationals who have been residing for at least five years together with their children in Greece are eligible to apply for family benefits. In addition, non-EU nationals, who are covered by the EU social security coordination rules (for instance because they moved to Greece from another EU member state), can only apply for family benefits after being resident in Greece for at least twelve years. In the view of the Commission, this legislation is discriminatory and breaches EU law. Moreover, EU rules on social security coordination prohibit any residence requirements for receiving social security benefits such as family allowance."
AMNA